reflections on a life lived well – see inside for more!chowes.com.au/pi voice 238.pdf · see...

Issue 238 Thursday 5 October 2017

Reflections on a life lived well – see inside for more!

Rising Palm Island boxing star Raymond Haines won two gold medals at the Sunstate Amateur State Titles in Cairns last month.

His first gold came in the Junior

60kg division when he beat silver

medallist Kyle McCarthy from

Guillotine Boxing Club Caboolture.

Haines also won a gold in the

Junior 57kg after no opponents could

be found to fight him.

Held on September 15 and 16

at Edge Hill Primary School Hall,

the cream of male and female

amateur boxers from around North

Queensland competed in divisions

from 35kg to 91kg plus.

Boxers from Townsville, Cairns,

Rockhampton, Mareeba, Palm Island,

Babinda, Caboolture, Charters

Towers, Home Hill, Newell Beach,

Yungaburra and TI battled it out.

Raymond Haines wins Gold in Cairns

2 The Palm Island Voice is free & online at www.chowes.com.au/newsletters/palmisland

Palm Island Mayor Alf Lacey says he was saddened to hear of the passing of Dr Evelyn Scott and would be doing his best to attend her funeral in Townsville tomorrow.“Dr Scott did a lot for north

Queensland and had worked

closely with people like Mrs

Eva Geia, who was the former

National Aboriginal Conference

member for the Palm Island

and north Queensland area

(QED),” he said.

Dr Scott will be the first

Indigenous woman to be

granted a state funeral by the

Queensland government.

A statement from the Scott

and Backo family said Dr Scott

was a remarkable woman.

“Our mother’s work and

achievements were recognised

across her career,” they said.

“...awards were important to

her but more important was

the recognition and friendship

she received from Aboriginal

and Torres Strait Islander

people particularly from the

remote communities of Cape

York and the Torres Strait.

“One of her extraordinary

talents was her ability to

engage with all sections of

Australian society...“Our mother loved to fish

and every day was a good day

for fishing as far as she was concerned.

“Her other greatest joy, outside of fishing and political

activism, was spending time

with her grandchildren,

instilling in them the values

she learnt as a child from her

father; those of honesty, hard

work, respect, and justice.

“She is survived by her son,

four daughters and seven

grandchildren.”Her funeral will be held at 1pm tomorrow (6 October) at the Townsville Stadium, 40-48 Murray Lyons Crescent, Annandale.

Remarkable activist leaves remarkable legacy

Legendary footballer and Palm Island resident Vern Daisy, right, was pictured at the

Arthur Beetson Foundation Murri Knockout at Redcliffe pictured with former NRL star Preston

Campbell and Yamba Bowie who played for the winning team. See page 7 for the full story!

Growing up on Palm Island

3 The Palm Island Voice is free & online at www.chowes.com.au/newsletters/palmisland

Boat Safety Check1. Prior to departing on a voyage to ensure

there are enough life jackets on board the vessel for each person. It is vitally important that children’s life jackets are carried and worn when young people are on-board vessels. Adult life jackets are not designed to correctly fit young people.

2. Ensure the vessel you are operating is currently registered and is being operated by someone who holds a marine drivers licence.

3. Ensure that distress signalling flares are carried on board your vessel and in date when intending on travelling outside of smooth water limits.

4. Ensure that you carry a registered EPIRB when operating on open waters. The carriage of an EPIRB can at any time of distress greatly expedite the search and rescue process and has helped save many lives during marine distress incidents.

5. Tell someone where you are going and when you intending on returning. This can also greatly assist with any search and rescue response if you are reported overdue from returning from your intended voyage.

Both were carried out without incident.

Palm Island OIC Dave Rutherford said they had

enjoyed the festivities.

“It was great to see people of Palm Island come

out and enjoy a fantastic community event,” he

said.

Water Police OIC Matthew Pegg was similarly

impressed.

“During patrol activities it was pleasing to see

that vessel operators were making attempts to

ensure that the vessels they were operating were

equipped with the correct safety equipment for the

intended voyage,” he said.

“It was also pleasing to see that there were no

drink driving offences identified during the Water

Police patrols over this period.

“With the weather warming up and people

wanting to get out onto the water more and enjoy

themselves it maybe timely to remind everyone

of some of the basic safety checks they can

undertake before heading out.”

During Spring Festival Palm Island police worked in conjunction with Water Police to conduct vessel patrols, as well as their usual foot and vehicle patrols.

Keeping things safe during Spring Festival

4 The Palm Island Voice is free & online at www.chowes.com.au/newsletters/palmisland

I would like to take a moment to acknowledge the leaders and elders of the past that have laid the foundation and paved the way for individuals such as my mother and many others, Harry Reuben (pictured left) writes...Their actions are what became the catalyst that

inspired my mother to follow her dreams and to

carry the torch and set a light, a challenge to the

Government, to consistently improve the capabilities

and the quality of life for the Bwgcolman people.

Just like Martin Luther King had a dream, a dream

of equality, a dream of empowerment, my mother

also shared in this dream.

In this dream she envisioned local jobs for local

people, local housing for local people and their

families, a community that is self-sustainable and

governed by its people, for its people; with an aim

that Palm Island would become a shining example of

Indigenous self-determination.

Sylvia Jean Reuben (aka Jeanie Mack), a Palm

Island born and bred woman, had a vision for the

betterment of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander

people of Palm Island.

A strong and passionate leader, an uncompromising

individual that stood tall in her commitment to

strive to create equity and prosperity for fellow

Palm Islanders.

A woman who was dedicated to empowering the

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people of her

cherished home.

The Sylvia Reuben Scenic Lookout is a beautiful

gesture towards recognising her contribution as one

of many strong and proud leaders of Palm Island.

Personally, I think the lookout is a significant and

insightful gift, as I feel that it compliments my

mother’s great vision of the future of Palm Island.

Although I am proud of such recognition, there are

also others that need to be recognised as well for

their hard work and contribution towards creating a

better and prosperous Palm Island.

I myself know that my mother would like to see

more past shakers and movers acknowledged and

recognised for their involvement.

I think it would be unjust to have a lookout

recognising my mother without including people such

as Uncle Jack Tomachy and Syd Casey.

5 The Palm Island Voice is free & online at www.chowes.com.au/newsletters/palmisland

6 The Palm Island Voice is free & online at www.chowes.com.au/newsletters/palmisland

Palm Island Aboriginal

Shire Council has 1,716 ‘likes’ on

Facebook!!!

Operating Hours for Council are Monday –

Friday 8am – 5pmIf you have any

questions please contact Reception on 4770 1177 or

4770 0200

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Thursday 12 October

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COMMUNITY NOTICE

BEWARE OF FERAL PIGSTHIS NOTICE IS TO INFORM COMMUNITY

MEMBERS NOT TO APPROACH PIGS IF YOU SEE THEM IN THE COMMUNITY AS

THEY CAN BE VERY AGGRESSIVE.

OU

T NO

W!

7 The Palm Island Voice is free & online at www.chowes.com.au/newsletters/palmisland

Tremaine Pryor-Murray, 9, has been running with and for the Bindal Sharks and Sharks United since he was 6-years-old.He was thrilled to find out he’ll

get a run in a junior exhibition

game to be played at the Bindal

Sharks Allblacks carnival next

weekend in a team he got to

choose, at his grandmother Jenny

Pryor’s request.

The team name - Bindal Sharks

Mhumpa Broncos - acknowledges

the Sharks and the Broncos.

Mhumpa is his Kaanju language

name after his great great

grandmother Bessie Lymburner (her

totem Sea Eagle).

Tremaine is proud of his heritage

being a strong Kaanju, Bindal-Juru

man and respects and learns his

culture and stories of the survival

of our people’s history.

Once Tremaine got the ‘okay’

to play in this year’s carnival, he

rounded up his friends – black and

white – and members of his family

to join the Bindal Sharks Mhumpa

Broncos team.

He also called on his Uncle Terry

Abdul-Rahman to be his coach,

along with his Uncles Leon and

Kenny Pryor as his Managers.

His mother, Viaella, has been

the organiser, helping Tremaine to

fundraise for his jerseys, shorts,

socks and polo shirts.

The support given by the players’

parents and family has also meant

100 extra polo shirts were able to

be bought to support the team.

Ms Pryor, who is the convenor of

the carnival said she was proud of

him.

“We have to give opportunities

for our young ones coming up,” she

said.

“Whether in the management,

running or playing, it’s all about

making Allblacks carnivals are here

to stay as a way of our families

and Mob getting together on a

happy time and watching our Mob

play good football.”

Tremaine has already pulled his

weight, and then some, with the

Sharks, coming out to every game

day and helping out wherever he

could.

He started playing junior rugby

league with Brothers at 6-years-

old, and has been with Centrals

(white) under 9s for the past two

years.

Brett Tait is his coach.

Young Tremaine is passionate

about the game, knows all of his

NRL players and supports the

Cowboys, Broncos Storms and

Roosters.

He also wants to play for his

great grandmother’s community the

Palm Island Barracudas as his first

TDRL senior team.

He was recently invited to play

for Palm Island Barracudas under

11s as a mark of respect for his

family connections as his great

great grandmother and great

grandmother’s Island home.

Bindal Allblacks to host junior exhibition game

Happy Birthday Erica Jnr!

Happy Birthday

Erykah Kyle - 80-years-

young!

8 October

8 The Palm Island Voice is free & online at www.chowes.com.au/newsletters/palmisland

Ikanau Conway, 12, has been playing netball since she was nine-years-old and has been chosen to play for the Australian Indigenous Netball team at the Pacific School Games in Adelaide in December.Ikanau has played in many competitions, mostly

as goal shooter or in defence, and has won a few

finals as well as several best and fairest medals

and trophies.

She was first selected in 2015 at the Sharon

Finnan Cup in Cairns to be a shadow player for the

Queensland Budgies, however did not get a chance

to play.

In 2016 she was selected again from the Sharon

Ikanau picked for Aussie Indigenous team to play in SA

Finnan Cup 2016, this time making the

team and travelling to Sydney earlier

this year, where she was selected to

play at the Gold Coast Carnival in July

this year. That competition was won by

her age group.

From there, she has been selected to

represent the 2017 Indigenous Australian

School Girl Netball team to play at the

Pacific Games in December 2017.

Words & pics thanks to proud mum, Keri Morton

Richard Martin, Robbie Congoo and Algon Congoo recently shone for the Dhadhin Geai Warriors, who won the grand final of the Arthur Beetson Foundation Murri Knockout rugby league carnival in Redcliffe, near Brisbane last month.

Palm players shine in Brisbane comp

Dhadhin Geai Warriors also included four NRL players who altogether thrashed SEQ Indigenous All Stars 48-nil in the grand final.It was the seventh running of

Queensland’s biggest Allblacks carnival, with 28 teams in the Deadly Choices Men’s section, and nine sides in the Queensland Government ladies division.There were also sides in the

University of Queensland under 15 grade.Brenko Lee (Canterbury

Bulldogs), his cousin Edrick Lee (Cronulla Sharks), youngster Jonus Pearson and Travis Waddell (both Brisbane Broncos) all made outstanding contributions for the Dhadhin Geai Warriors.

The Warriors were undefeated throughout the carnival and in qualifying matches beat Wynnum Manly 38-6, Arafura Heat 12-8, Inala Wangarra Panthers 38-6 and Brisbane Blacks 40-nil.In their quarter final Dhadhin

Geai Warriors defeated the classy Southern Dingoes side 10-6.The Grand Final was expected

to be a close encounter but Dhadhin Geai Warriors completely dominated and raced to a 24-nil half time lead.Astute coach Terry Abednego,

who was a former NRL Volunteer of the Year, told his players at half time “to stay in the grind”.“Don’t change your style of

play,” Terry said.

Games were seen by tens of thousands live streamed on the carnival website.One of the commentators

remarked that the “Badu boys were having a party at Redcliffe” and he wasn’t wrong.Jonus Pearson and fullback

Yamba Bowie each scored three tries and flying machine Bernard Mosby crossed for two four pointers in the last two minutes.Now the focus for north

Queensland football fans will include several Allblacks carnivals to come in Cairns, Townsville, Mossman and Gordonvale as well as Zenadth Kes on TI and Dan Ropeyarn at Bamaga.